Bobby closed his eyes and scrubbed a hand over his face, feeling the stubble that a few days of not shaving had left. The image of John, patiently waiting for Bobby to reach out to him when he was better, twisted his stomach, with guilt, with resentment, with pain at the thought that he had caused John to suffer by not interpreting what had transpired between them the same way John had.

He stared at his knees, considering her words for a long moment, and then murmured quietly, "I guess I should call him then." The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.